West Bromwich-born Tracey Cheetham has claimed she decided to quit her £45,000 a year South Yorkshire deputy police commissioner role because the 1,400 victims of the Rotherham child sex scandal had been failed by the authorities.

Mrs Cheetham, who grew up in the Black Country, announced she was resigning after a devastating report into the Rotherham child abuse scandal.

The mum-of-three said she was “incredibly sad” and said the 1,400 victims of abuse who had been failed over the years.

She added: “I am more concerned about them and what is happening to them now. Have they finally received the support and help they need to try and rebuild their lives? These are the questions that demand answers.

“I hope the progress that has been made in bringing those who perpetrate these dreadful crimes to justice will continue and more children will be spared suffering this abuse.”

She also demanded that her boss Shaun Wright also step down following the government report which exposed widespread child sexual exploitation in Rotherham over 16 years.

She told the Mail: " I cannot support the current stance taken by the commissioner. I do believe in light of what has happened that he should stand down and therefore cannot continue as his deputy. "

Ms Cheetham said she felt “unable to continue” in the role and added: “It is vital for people to have confidence in the office of police and crime commissioner and, with this in mind, I believe it would have been the right thing for Shaun Wright to resign.”

Avid Aston Villa fan Mrs Cheetham was educated in West Bromwich before going to university and moving to South Yorkshire. She became a Barnsley councillor in 2011.